India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Preview: Can India bounce back?
After a 10-wicket defeat in the first test match against Sri Lanka at Galle in Muttiah Muralitharan's farewell test, the numero uno test side in the world, India, will be giving it their all to try and level the series in the second test that gets underway on the 26th of July. The Lankans dominated the first match to such an extent that even though the second day was completely washed out, they didn't have any problems in securing the win. The Indians were outplayed in every department of the game and they have to pull up their socks if they want to give Sri Lanka a run for their money. The venue for the second test, the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo is a ground where the Lankans have an excellent record. The hosts have won twelve and lost just two matches at this ground in the past decade with three matches ending in a draw. India last played here in 2006, and on that occasion, Ajantha Mendis and Muralitharan combined to pick up 19 wickets among themselves to win the match by a massive margin of an innings and 239 runs. However, this time around Muralitharan will not feature in the Lankan line-up but Mendis is back in his place to have yet another go at the Indians.
India's dismal show in the first test has made things tougher for them. With Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth missing due to injury, the team was already on the back-foot and the crushing defeat in the first test further dented the team's confidence. The bowling is the main area of concern with the front-line spinners going wicket-less in conditions which are more suitable for spinners than for the faster bowlers. The seamers too didn't have much to show for on the first day, but they managed to put up a good show on the third morning. Amit Mishra might be included in place of Pragyan Ojha and that seems to be the only possible change in the XI. There is some good news for India though as Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, who picked up 16 wickets among themselves in Galle, will not be playing at Colombo and that will make life a lot easier for the batsmen
The Lankans did everything right at Galle and it was an excellent way to bid farewell to Muralitharan, a man who had contributed immensely to Sri Lankan cricket. Murali himself played an instrumental role in the victory, picking up 8 wickets that also enabled him to reach 800 test match wickets. However, with Muralitharan retiring, the Lankans will now have to look at some other options to fill up the large void left behind. Ajantha Mendis has been recalled to the squad and he will in all probability take Murali's place in the playing XI. Lasith Malinga, the man-of-the-match in the Galle test, will also be missing the second test due to a stiff knee and he will be replaced by either Dilhara Fernando or Dammika Prasad, the two other seamers in the squad.
